Job equality

Is it occupational equality between men and women something real in Spain?

It has only been eighty-three years since women are allowed to cast their votes in Spain within a social environment mostly ruled by men.  Back then, not only had women to devote their lives to their families and put aside their life expectations but they also had to put up with rules based on females’ subjection. Working out was not well seen for them in a country where men used to be the breadwinners.

Fortunately, that tendency appeared to come to an end, especially from the end of the dictatorship in 1975. Windows were suddenly opened and a fresh breeze of freedom could be breathed.  A new flourishing generation of women was studying in the University at that time, ready to be immersed in the job market claiming for the space that had been denied to them after having been fighting for it for long years.  Changes were coming, but not at the rate that women expected.

Admittedly, there have been many changes in recent years. These day and age women have access to relevant positions in the Spanish government and local and national institutions taking important decisions, but this is not coming about in private companies where the windows that once were opened have turned out to be only an ajar door. The real deal is that there are no many women in charge of the companies which made up the IBEX 35 and it seems to be that things might not change in the foreseeable future.

Be that as it may, I strongly believe that it is high time we all thought about a shift in attitude and mentality towards the role of women in the society. They, as well as men, are well educated and ready to assume responsibilities in companies. Our society neither could be called modern nor fair till all its members have equal job opportunities so, what are we waiting for?

Vicent

Goodbye 2014!

2014 has been the worst year of my life. In total, I spent more days in medical offices, hospitals, and clinical labs than at the gym, beach, and in other leisure activities.

In June, after three weeks of hospital stay because she contracted cellulitis in her legs, and three more weeks bedridden in our house, my grandmother had a heart attack. She died before my mother and me, and we could not do anything. I was emotionally devastated, but I didn’t have time to recover.

During the hot summer, my father’s symptoms from his neuromuscular disease (myasthenia gravis) got worse, and I took him two times to the emergency room. After that, he underwent a costly treatment of IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulin). This treatment is bearable and easy, like a normal serum, but filling out the health insurance documents and waiting for the approval is time-consuming and grueling. My father is better now, considering his condition, and probably he will receive another round of IVIG in January. Sadly, more health problems in my family were still to come.

In October, my mother was diagnosed with endometrial cancer. She required surgery, and the surgeon took out a 9-centimeter cancerous mass from her uterus. Fortunately, she is healing well and doesn’t have any side effects after the surgery. In January, the doctors will decide whether she needs radiotherapy or another procedure.

I hope I will not see many white coats (doctors) during 2015, at least after January.

Best wishes to all Scribblando writers!!!

U.S. and Cuba

President Obama announced today that his government will take the first steps to reestablish diplomatic relations with Cuba. I applaud this decision because the U.S. doesn’t gain anything positive maintaining the blockage to Cuba, nor this U.S. policy has helped to democratize the island.

I asked my mother—she fled from Cuba in the sixties—her opinion on Obama’s decision, and she couldn’t care less. After so many years away from her country, I don’t think she expects to come back.

Bedroom and Writing

I don’t know how could I live in such an untidy place. For months (maybe years), I postponed painting and remodeling my bedroom. But enough is enough, and last week I decided that it was time to stop procrastinating.

I painted my bedroom walls and ceiling white, and now the room looks brighter than with the old pastel color. Was it really pastel? The walls were so stained that I’m not sure.

My deteriorated, uncomfortable desk reincarnated in small wood pieces. And a not-so-new but spacious desk replaced the old one. Now all my writing tools are organized: reference books on a top shelf; white paper at my left side; the PC monitor at my eye level; and dozens of pens, pencils, and highlighters near my right hand.

Finally, I can sit like a human being to write my pieces. I wrote this post in just a few minutes and one shot, so this means that a tidy environment helps my ideas to flow better.

Gym Matters

Last week, for the first time in four years, I signed up for a gym membership. This summer was a period of significant stress, so I needed an activity that helped me to relax my mind and recharge my batteries. For an unknown reason, weight training is the physical activity that unloads the most of my stress levels.

Since the moment I grabbed the dumbbells, an indescribable sensation ran throughout my body. An hour of curling, pressing, and pushing weights didn’t stop my thirst of pumping iron. I wanted more adrenaline in my muscles. But my conscience advised me to take it easy, “Calm down, you are pushing too hard for a middle-aged fellow.”

I paid my dues over the weekend. My leg muscles were swollen from squatting, and my biceps hurt. My back implored me to get a massage. Ouch! Yet my spirit was full of life; my posture, upright; my energy tank, overloaded; and my mind, totally relaxed.

I am ready to hit the weights this week.

Aldo II

Even with her swollen legs, my grandmother entered the hospital walking and climbing stairs. But a few days later, she was totally bedridden with her legs up.

Suddenly, deep wounds appeared in her legs. Through the wounds, started to drain a light-yellow liquid and some blood. A combination of factors contributed to this dangerous clinical picture: the cellulitis, the secondary effects of the antibiotics, the kidneys losing their filtering capacity, a blood circulation problem, and clogged arteries and veins in her legs.

To make things worse, my grandmother’s primary doctor, who was her nephrologist and a trusted doctor, had to travel to a medical symposium in the United States. Her primary doctor left another nephrologist monitoring her vital signs and kidneys. We didn’t trust this new doctor, but we couldn’t do anything about it.

A week passed, and my grandmother’s health continued to deteriorate. The new doctor recommended dialysis to help her kidneys. We opposed the dialysis treatment. After that, and without any tact, the new doctor even suggested in front of my grandmother that eventually she could lose both legs.

To be continued.

Aldo I

In April, my grandmother’s legs became like big red balloons. I thought that they could have exploded at any moment. But she was walking and doing her things normally. After some days of doubts, we took my grandmother to her primary doctor.

The doctor diagnosed that she had contracted a cellulitis. This bacteria infection attacks the skin and swells different body parts, such as the arms and legs.

To kill the cellulitis, my grandmother needed a strong antibiotic that compromised her immune system. For some years, she had suffered from renal problems, so the doctor hospitalized her to closely monitor her kidney’s function during the treatment.

At the hospital, a long journey started.

To be continued.

Ukraine III Interview

(Interview of a girl from Ukraine in a chat, it might be interesting to get opinions from some protagonist, she is an English learner.)


Roberto: Hello
Karina: Hello Roberto, how are you?
Roberto: I'm fine thanks, Ukraine is the centre of attention
Karina: yes, it's true, we have a lot problems
Roberto: It's interesting to speak directly with someone far away of news.

Karina: I can say, just that we lost the Crimea, and now all country is afraid that we can lose north part

Roberto: then you don't agree with Russia
Karina: it's very bad that now in Russian and another part od Ukraine the mass media is a psychological prison that turns humans beings into obedient mental slaves, so we don't agree with Russia, because a lot of information is lie.

Roberto: But Ukraine belonged to Russia before 1950
Karina: yes it's true, we with Russia since 1654. But in 1991 we are independent

Roberto: What do you think it is going to happen?
Karina: really, I don't know. I'm afraid that can be start war, but hope that we live in intelligent world and all problems can be solved peacefully

Roberto: What do you think about Putin?
Karina: I think that it is amiss, because people are suffering especially Ukrainian people

Roberto: Do you really mean that he obey to someone?
Karina: It's hard because I really I don't know. At the start I think that USA have a power over him, but we lose the Crimea, I don't know. I think he did not surrender

Roberto: It's hard imaging to Putin obey to Obama.
Karina: yes, I know it but I mean different situation, for example like Group of  Eight. it isn't Obama, but USA was very active in this situation

Roberto: I understand your text but I don't get it
Karina: Oh it's very hard explain in English.

Roberto: Take your time
Karina: I want say that at the start when all this situation with the Crimea started USA and Germany are very active, say that they threatened Russia will withdraw from the Group of Eight, they negociated, Ukranians thought that that it somehow affect the decision Russia, but Putin has managed all very cleverly turnin their favor, without many serious problems for their powers and his country.

Karina: and now I don't now think that he really isn't obey to anyone.

Karina: I hope you were able to understand the flow of my thoughts 

Roberto: It's difficult to do something because Putin has a lot of power an anybody wants a war.
Karina: yes, I agree with you

Roberto: Now Putin could easily invade Ukraine
Karina: I hope that this will not happen. I hope he is satisfied with the Crimea for the first time, my country need time to at least improve the economy, but he certanly enjoyed our helpessness

Karina: I must go 

Roberto: it was a pleasure
Karina: me too, bye

Ukraine II

I understand your reasons Matt, but I think that the problem is how Russia do the things, because the respect International rights is the only way to avoid wars especially front of the powerful. If we justify illegal violent actions then we would return the time several centuries ago. We have to look for the way to solve conflicts without creating new conflicts. At the beginning of Ukraine crisis, Putin told that Russia wouldn't involve that issue, He lied because he worried about his interests in Black Sea. Putin has taken advantage a political and militar oportunity, and he shows its might ignoring the international diplomacy. In my opinion, we have to focus in the legal borders movement process, of the contrary, we will create new conflicts.

Fondillon wine

This is the kind of wine found in an English ship wrecked of 1813 under the sea in Tarragona coast, wine shipload was taken in Alicante. This ship was part of a eighteen-group in war against the French of Napoleon. The English attack failed and in their escape five ships  beached at the coast.

This is the wine is drunk by kings, princes and cardinals and it was used to combat scurvy in ships too. The most surprising thing is that the wine is intact as well as barrel of 1798.

You can visit  Sant Pere de Galliants monastery where seeing some ship pieces.

The mozarabic language

I am going to explain who were the mozarabics and what was their language. About a milenium there were in Iberian Peninsula, Spain doesn't exist until 1492 with the total expulsion of the arabs for Catholic Kings,  several romances languages, in other words, languages which come from vulgar latin, such as Galician, Catalan, Castilian, etcetera and another one was the Mozarabic. The Mozarabics was Christians people keeping their romance language developed themselves in occupied zone by Arabs. They were usually persecuted and forced to pay taxes to practise their religion. Most of them were fleeing to north where they adopted  romances languages existing over there. Therefore and finally, the language Mozarabic disappeared. I post a known poem.

¡Tanto amare, tanto amare   

Habib, tanto amare!      

Enfermaron olios nidios, 

E dolen tanto male 

Translating:

So much love, so much love

there is so much love that

my bright eyes got ill(due to so much crying)

and they hurt so bad.( Anonymous, XI Century )

Where are the businesses?

Last week a platoon of fiscal agents from the state treasury department visited my city’s downtown. They were auditing compliance with the state sales tax. And what happened?

I think they lost their time because almost all businesses in the downtown have closed in recent years. In the future, these fiscal agents will have a hard time justifying their salaries. Hahaha!

Planet Fitness

After launching an aggressive marketing campaign, a Planet Fitness gym opened in my city. Planet Fitness is a 24-hour fitness club with hundreds of locations throughout the United States. This franchise offers a modern place to work out without the hostile environment of other gyms; whatever that means.

During January, more than one thousand of locals enrolled in the new gym, including men sporting beer bellies, middle-aged housewives, and unathletic twentysomethings. None of them look like they have lifted a five-pound dumbbell in their lives. How many will survive February?

I visited my city’s Planet Fitness during its opening week. The floors and bathrooms were immaculately clean, and the working out area was full of state-of-the-art weight machines and dozens of treadmills. However, I decided not to subscribe. During January, they had a tempting introductory offer of $0 enrollment fee and $10 per month, but you must sign a 12-month contract and consent to automatic bank payments. These contracts scare me.

When I decide to enroll in a gym, I will stick to an old-school gym. Nothing can replace the atmosphere of an old gym with its rusty machines, loud grunts, and hardcore fitness users.

Diana Nyad

Since 1950 greatest swimmers have tried to make the way across ocean from Cuba shore to Florida whose distance of over 100 milles. But was on the last September when a sixty-four woman got it in her fifth attempt in 53 hours. She was accompanied by a team of some 30 people, some of them shark experts. In this waters there are large predators and the box jellyfish, the deadliest venom in all of the ocean. She did not use shark cage neither wetsuit, just a facial protection for jellyfish. Add to this, the Gulf currents and whirlings, the most impredictable of the planet Earth, and of course the risk of hypothermia. She was listening 85 songs along way and needed to swim without lights because it attracts sharks and jelyfish, the dark was tremendous, black this black.
She now presents conferences about advices  to achieve your dreams in the life.
She says phrases as: "None of us ever get through this life without heartache, without turmoil". She believes in perseverance as a great human quality. She says too:  "You can chase your dreams at any age; you're never too old." and "there's no doubt in my mind that I am at the prime of my life today". What a great words!

Where are the kids?

 I miss those days when kids crowded the streets on Christmas Day. When I grew up, children drove their ‘big wheels’ on the sidewalks like Formula One drivers, other kids filled up their solid ‘tonkas’ with mud, and teenagers jumped sand obstacles on their skateboards. Those were the gifts in vogue in my youth. And don’t forget the never-out-of-fashion sports equipment like balls, bats, football helmets, and tennis rackets.

Curiously, it’s 2:00 p.m. and the streets of my neighborhood are deserted. Where are the kids? I don’t know. I haven’t seen a kid carrying a baseball bat in years. Anyway, whatever kids are receiving today, I hope they are enjoying Christmas Day as much as I did years ago. 

Merry Christmas to all Scribblando writers!

Planned obsolescence

      I have a notebook(little laptop) which it hasn’t worked for a year. The reason was because of sometimes its keypad fails, when you clicked a key it did something different what it should do. Therefore, I supposed it was caused by a computer virus, but my anti-virus program engine didn’t find any virus. Later I tried to reinstall my original operative system, windows XP, using a backup which it was kept on my HD but the breakdown still continued. Probably, I have got a computer virus which my anti-virus program is not able to find to, I thought. Finally I had to make a hard decision: to format my hard disk and install a new and clean O.S. using the CD delivered on purchase. Unfortunatelly , my luck didn’t change. My options was already exhausted. My wife recommends throws it away, I recognize that I was about to do it, however I left it on a shelf for three months. I took it again yesterday and I decided to install Linux operative system, Ubuntu version, after I assured it went on broke-down yet. Oh my God!, I was impressed when I checked my laptop and it backed in business!. Who have a logical explaination to this?. Might be the planned obsolescence inside XP O.S.? Who knows!

Emails

Writing emails in English could be a challenging experience for English learners. Emails share some peculiarities between formal and informal language, which represent an additional difficulty for non-native speakers.

For the above reason, I am very cautious when I write an email in English. I carefully review each word, verb tense, and punctuation symbol. And I usually take a second look at prepositions, the nightmare of English learners.

On top of that, if the email is written for business purposes, I always use the Word’s spell checker. In addition, I print the email to detect any hideous errors. Finally, I copy and paste the email and send it. I know this process is time-consuming for just a few lines, but in business, errors can be costly.

On the other hand, in Spanish I write directly into the message’s body. Rarely I consult a dictionary or a grammar book. Seconds later, the email is sent without much review. Is my online communication in English better than in Spanish? Probably. Maybe it is time to dust off my Real Academia dictionary before sending my next email in Spanish.

Eye Exam VII

My grandmother’s right eye surgery was last Tuesday. The surgery finished without any complications. Today we visited the ophthalmologist for a follow-up appointment, in which we experienced the same problems of all previous visits: a small room packed with patients and long hours.

Fortunately, my grandmother’s eyes are healing well. Right now, her vision is 20/50 in her right eye and 20/20 in her left eye. These are great stats for an 88-year-old lady. In a month, she will have another appointment with the ophthalmologist. If everything is right, the ophthalmologist will prescribe new eyeglasses. The old pair has more than fifteen years. 

I will miss the ophthalmologist’s annoying assistants, and the wasted hours that we spent there. It seems that I am suffering from Stockholm syndrome. Hahaha!

To be continued.

Wonder

by R.J.Palacio

I had never read a book like this, "Wonder", what a beautiful word. A beautiful word the author uses to describe us a wonderful person, with a brilliant mind and a big heart inside his chest. R.J.Palacio, tells us the story of a little boy, August, who has not had an easy life and childhood from his birth due to his deformed face.

August is a boy who has always been living surrounded and overprotected by his loving family due to his physical problems. He was born with several deformities on his face as a consequence of genetic problems. He has suffered twenty seven surgeries but, in spite of that, August is not happy with his physical appearance and feels the looks of the people wherever he goes.

August has been home-schooled by his mother, but his parents decide that he has to start going to school. At the beginning, he feels kind of terrified and does not want to go but his family finally convince him, in spite of his fears.

The course starts and he can feel both sides of friendship. On the one hand the real friendship of Jack and Summer who help him from the very beginning and, on the other hand, a fake friendship leaded by Julian, who has two faces, a good one to the teachers and a cruel one while talking to August in front of the other kids.

Time goes by, and August character, courage, kindness, and brightness makes him gain the respect of  all his classmates and teachers. These traits joined to all love he has breathed in his life makes him a special person, a wonderful person who everybody wants to know, who everybody wants to be with.

As a way of reflection, I would like to tell you that I wish I had the opportunity to meet  August too. I am sure that we would be good friends. While I was going through this unputdownable book,  I could feel on my own how he felt and rivers of tears run down my cheeks. This book makes me think that there are lots of Augusts in the world, very close to us, and we should not miss out on the opportunity to help them to feel ordinary and happy, the only thing we have to do is to be kinder than is necessary.

Vicent

Mistakes

Carrying so many things in my mind sometimes provokes that I commit serious mistakes. One of those mistakes happened last week.

For my profession, I shall take continuing education courses periodically. Last year, I completed some of those courses online. After finishing each online course, I must print a certificate and send it to the state board. But now the board doesn’t have the certificates of four courses; and, worst of all, I don’t find copies of them in my records. I have been all weekend scratching my head thinking about where I have copies of those certificates.

Long story short, next week I need to take additional courses to renew my professional license. That means spending more than a hundred dollars plus gas and two days of my busy life.

Lesson learned: I must keep track of my professional records and declutter my mind from insignificant things.